Breast pain can have many causes, from hormone changes to injuries in nearby muscles. It is usually not a sign of breast cancer.

Breast pain can be caused by many different things

Two of the most common include hormone fluctuations and fibrocystic (lumpy) breasts. Breastfeeding, poor-fitting bras, and medications can also cause pain in the breasts.

Hormones fluctuate during the menstrual cycle or other times of changing hormone levels, such as menopause or while taking hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen and progesterone fluctuations can cause breasts to feel swollen, lumpy, and sometimes painful.

The pain may occur during times of other hormone changes, such as during premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause.

The pain may decrease with menopause, but it can also linger into menopause for people who use oral contraception or estrogen replacement during perimenopause and menopause.

If hormone fluctuations related to your menstrual cycle are causing your breast pain, you may notice the pain worsening 2 to 3 days before your period. Sometimes the pain will continue throughout your menstrual cycle.

To determine whether your breast pain follows your menstrual cycle, keep a log of your periods and note when you experience pain throughout the month. A pattern may emerge after a few cycles.

Developmental stages that affect the menstrual cycle and may cause breast pain include:

As you age, breasts experience involution, which is when fat replaces the breast tissue. This can cause cysts and more fibrous tissue to develop, known as fibrocystic breast tissue.

While fibrocystic breasts don’t always hurt, they can. It’s usually not a cause for concern.

Fibrocystic breasts can feel lumpy and tender, usually in the upper and outer portions of the breasts. The lumps can also enlarge during your menstrual cycle.

If you notice lumps in your breasts, a doctor can perform tests to determine the cause. These can include:

Numerous reasons can cause pain while breastfeeding. These can include:

Mastitis

Mastitis is inflammation of the milk ducts that may involve an infection. Between 3% and 20% of breastfeeding people experience mastitis.

Mastitis can cause strong breast pain and burning while breastfeeding, as well as swelling and skin that is red and warm to the touch.

It can also cause additional symptoms. These may include:

  • fever
  • chills
  • other flu-like symptoms

Doctors can treat mastitis with antibiotics.

Engorgement

Engorgement occurs when breasts overfill with milk. They can enlarge, harden, and feel warm to the touch. Your skin might also feel tight and painful.

You can relieve the pain or discomfort by:

  • breastfeeding your baby
  • pumping
  • manually expressing your milk

To manually express milk, place your thumb on top of your breast and your fingers underneath. Slowly roll your fingers back against your chest wall and forward toward your nipples to empty your breast.

Improper latch

If your baby isn’t correctly latching to your nipple, you will likely experience breast pain. Other signs your baby may not be latching properly include cracked and sore nipples.

A lactation consultant can help you establish a proper latch.

Breastfeeding should not hurt. See a doctor or lactation specialist if you are having difficulty breastfeeding. You can visit La Leche League International to find a certified lactation consultant in your area.

Breast pain can have other causes, including:

Extramammary concerns

Sometimes breast pain occurs because of irritation in the chest, arm, or back muscles.

Examples of activities that use those muscle groups include:

  • raking
  • rowing
  • shoveling
  • waterskiing

Poor-fitting bras

Wearing a bra without enough support can cause neck and shoulder discomfort.

You may need to replace a bra if the shoulder straps no longer support you, or the cups are gaping or too tight. You may also find that wearing the right type of bra for your bust may help reduce pain.

Breast surgery

If you’ve had breast surgery, pain from scar tissue can linger after your incisions have healed.

Medications

Certain medications can contribute to breast pain. These may include:

While you shouldn’t stop these medications if you have breast pain, you can ask a doctor if other options are available.

Smoking

Smoking increases epinephrine levels in the breast tissue, which can cause breast pain.

Breast pain is not typically associated with breast cancer. In a 2019 study of 953 patients with a median age of 50, 0.6% with isolated breast pain had imaging test results that were “highly suggestive of malignancy” or cancer.

Having breast pain or fibrocystic breasts does not mean you have a higher risk of developing cancer. However, lumpy tissue may make it harder to see tumors on a mammogram.

Contact a doctor if you have consistent pain in one area of your breast. A doctor can use the following diagnostic tests to determine if your breast pain is related to cancer:

  • Mammogram: Doctors use this imaging test to identify abnormalities in breast tissue.
  • Ultrasound: An ultrasound is a scan that penetrates the breast tissue without exposing you to radiation. Doctors can use it to identify lumps.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI creates detailed images of breast tissue to identify potentially cancerous lesions.
  • Biopsy: A biopsy removes breast tissue so a doctor can examine it for cancerous cells.

Treatment will depend on whether you have cyclical or noncyclical breast pain. Before recommending treatment, a doctor will consider your age, medical history, and the severity of the pain.

Treatment for cyclical pain may include:

Treatment for noncyclical pain will depend on the cause.

Always talk with a doctor before taking any medication or supplements to ensure they won’t affect any current medications or other health conditions.

See a doctor if your pain:

  • keeps you from daily activities
  • lasts longer than 2 weeks
  • accompanies a new, growing lump
  • is concentrated in a specific area
  • worsens with time

At your appointment, expect the doctor to ask about your symptoms. Questions may include:

  • When did your breast pain begin?
  • What worsens your breast pain? Does anything make it better?
  • Do you notice the pain worsening around your menstrual cycle?
  • How would you rate the pain?
  • What does the pain feel like?

The doctor will likely perform a physical exam and potentially recommend an imaging test, like a mammogram, to view your breast tissue.

If you have cystic breasts, the doctor might perform a needle biopsy. In this procedure, the doctor inserts a thin needle into the cyst to remove a small tissue sample for testing.

You can book an appointment with a primary care doctor in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool.

When is it an emergency?

If your breast pain is sudden and accompanied by chest pain, tingling, or numbness in your extremities, seek immediate medical attention or call 911 or your local emergency services. These symptoms may be signs of a heart attack.

Breast pain can have many causes that range from hormone fluctuations to certain medications to pain from an injury.

Treatment for breast pain depends on the cause. A doctor may conduct imaging tests to find the cause or rule out other conditions.